5 Intentional Shifts to Create a Happier, More Fulfilled Life
Happiness is a few simple tweaks away…
I know what you’re thinking whenever there’s talk about more happiness in your life – a TOTAL life overhaul!
Everything and everyone must go!
Not True.
This is exactly how I felt whenever I thought about how to be happier. I couldn’t see a way to achieve it without removing everything I felt was the source of my unhappiness – and most things needing removal represented the big rocks in my jar of life.
Happiness comes from within but we often think it is determined by external factors. That it means everything has to be going perfectly – money, love, work, family – to be happy.
Turns out that making a few tweaks to my “internal” person is just what I needed to increase my level of happiness.
So here are five areas to focus on that I found helpful to me on my ongoing journey to a better me: Purpose in Life, Health and Fitness, Gratefulness, Goals, and Focus.
1) Discover Your Life’s Purpose
Why do you do anything on a daily basis? Why were you put on this earth? What do you want to accomplish?
I spent a lot of time trying to find my purpose in life but it was always in an external way. Stop and think about what and who you want to be going forward.
You will need time for this so get involved in something that helps like a new hobby you’ve always wanted to try, hiking, nature walks where you can mediate, yoga, or even therapy. You can also try journaling which I find is a very powerful way to figure out how you truly feel.
Regardless of what you choose, make sure it helps you learn how to tap into your inner self to find your purpose.
It’s there – sometimes it just doesn’t feel like it with the speed at which life flows. Stop and think about what makes you happy deep within.
2) Focus on Health and Fitness
Once you connect with your purpose, your energy level will increase. That will lead to your making better decisions about exercise and meals.
Trust me, it works. I slept better, woke up earlier, and made better plans each day – all things that helped me start going to the gym earlier in the morning.
A healthy lifestyle is a conscious decision so you get to choose to change your focus to healthier options likes fruits, grains, lean meat, fruits and how often you avoid prepackaged and fast food.
You will be amazed at how much better you feel when you eat right and exercise!
Yes, I said the dreaded word: Exercise! You will have to exercise. You can go to a gym or get creative about your fitness.
Park further away in the grocery store parking lot, take the stairs, walk the long way around in your office, walk your neighborhood to unwind after work and shoot for 10,000 steps a day.
Worried about finding the time to exercise? You will find plenty of time to exercise when you make it a priority each week. No need to go everyday, just make time to workout at least three times a week.
Exercising will make you feel better, more positive and happier.
Prioritize it in your life and see how much more positive you feel, how much clarity it gives you, and how much more productive you are on a daily basis.
3) Be Grateful
Gratitude is so underrated! Yet, the lack of it leads to so much discontent in our lives. I spent more time focusing on what was wrong, that I didn’t think about how grateful I was about all the things that worked well – and how they brought such joy to my life.
It will take practice, but decide each day to show appreciation for what’s wonderful about your life and the opportunities you have.
Up your game by taking a refreshing walk and think about the the soft breeze, the green trees, the blue sky, the rain that nourishes the earth and your garden, and the sun that warms your skin on a cool day.
Not a nature person? Grab a pen and write down your thoughts of gratitude in a journal. Yes, you could type it, but I recommend you write it down. There’s something so comforting and satisfying about writing down your thoughts.
4) Always Have a Goal
Avoiding learning the importance of goals the hard way – like I did.
Goals keep you focused in a certain direction so you aren’t floating around without a purpose. No life purpose means we’re distracted by shiny object syndrome and are open to whatever comes our way instead of waiting for a real opportunity that will help us accomplish something worthwhile.
Just make sure your goal is SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and has a timetable.
5) Focus on What You Can Control
Stop wasting time and energy on things we really can’t control, no matter how much we hate it, wish things were different, or have already determined the perfect solution to fix but can’t get anyone to listen.
Sometimes we just have to (oh dear god) let things go and save our valuable energy on things we can control, like ourselves, our productivity once we let it go, and earning the benefits of focusing on more positive things instead of the sheer frustration of the situation.
That part is tough because I LOVE to fix things.
I just remind myself that if it’s that bad, it will implode soon enough!
I stay focused on controlling my side of the fence so I am not a casualty of the “war”, and making sure that I am prepared to flourish in the aftermath because I HAVE focused on what I need to be doing to manage myself during the trial.
It’s difficult but it does work.
So here you have it! A few of the things Char does to keep herself focused, productive and happy in a world where things are out of control.
I can’t wait to hear your comments about how you’re coping.
To Your Success…
Char XOXO
